Lobbyist’s Ties to Cheong Wa Dae Probed

The Seoul Central District Public Prosecutors’ Office is investigating the lobbying activities of a recently-arrested broker, 54-year-old Yoon Sang-rim.

Prosecutors confirmed yesterday that Yoon had frequent telephone conversations with a high-ranking Cheong Wa Dae official shortly before his arrest last November, and are trying to find out details.

Prosecutors have confirmed through monitoring Yoon’s mobile phone that Yoon frequently talked on the phone with a Cheong Wa Dae official close to him, and that the two also had a phone conversation right before Yoon’s arrest.

A Honam region native, Yoon boasted of his closeness to the Cheong Wa Dae official, and according to prosecutors, he is reported to have said, “I often visited Cheong Wa Dae after the incumbent administration was inaugurated.”

Yoon has yet to mention the name of the official in question to investigators, however.

A prosecution official said, “We cannot investigate people based on mere phone calls or close relationships.” But a thorough investigation is likely if suspicious money transactions between the two are found.

In response to requests from Grand National Party representatives asking for Yoon’s visiting records on January 19, Cheong Wa Dae said, “Yoon did not visit Cheong Wa Dae in relation to the legal community’s corruption scandal.” The presidential office explained, “When asked for visitor records without concrete facts or suspicions, we hesitate because that would be a violation of individual privacy and freedom.”

Meanwhile, prosecutors have confirmed that Jun Byung-hun, a spokesperson for the ruling Uri Party, sent more than 10 million won to Yoon’s bank account, and have launched a probe.

“I sent a total of 50 million won for home remodeling expenses to Yoon’s real-name bank account twice,” Jun said. “They were not illegal money transactions, they were normal commercial transactions.”

woogija@donga.com